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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[06e] White Paper Presentation/InternDATE: March 10, 2015 Administrator Judy Weyrens MEMO TO:Chairperson Wick St. Joseph Economic Development Authority Mayor Administrator Weyrens Rick Schultz FROM: Cynthia Smith Strack Councilors Matt Killam RE: Internship Activity: Active Aging Report Bob Loso Renee Symanietz Dale Wick BACKGROUND As you know, EDA Intern Erin Speltz has been facilitating the move of the Farmer’sMarket to the EDA downtown and investigating active aging issues in St. Joseph. Doug Danielson Larry Hosch Speltz has interviewed several people locally regarding active aging and has conducted a literary Gary Osberg review of the issue. Attached please find a report to the EDA from Intern Speltz. She will be Rick Schultz present at the meeting to present the information. Dale Wick Please note: The World Health Organization describes active aging asa process of creating and improving opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance the quality of life as people age. “Active” refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual, and civic affairs – not just the ability to be physically active or remain in their homes. Active aging is an economic development issue because the ever-enlarging pool of retirees have sizable amounts of free time and a stable source of disposable income and, as such, are economic generators. Older people who get out and about positively impact local shops, restaurants, and educational institutions. Numerous studies indicated older adults tend to spend their money locally with small businesses. Older people are also notably more often philanthropists and volunteers within communities. Encore entrepreneurs pursuing personal passions after finishing a conventional career are a growing phenomenon. Active aging is not only an economic development issue. Rather, active aging spans several public/private disciplines and all geographic boundaries. The EDA’s role is not envisioned as the sole participant in creating an age friendly community but rather achampion of such an effort based on very real economic benefits to the community. ACTION This item is for EDA information and comment. Page 29 of 47 1 Active Aging in Place St. Joseph, MN Page 30 of 47 2 Table of Contents Part I: Introduction Part II: Terms and Definitions Part III: Why is Active Aging Important? Part IV: Facets of Active Aging and Best Practices for Successful Aging in Place Communities Part V: An Evaluation of St. Joseph Part VI: Senior Commission and Recommendations for the Future Bibliography Appendix Page 31 of 47 3 Part I: Introduction Throughout the United States and in many nations, public private partnerships have been established in support of active aging in place. Such efforts at local, state, and federal levels provide evidence of the universality and relevance of not only planning for but capitalizing on an aging population. This paper symbolizes one of the first steps St. Joseph, Minnesota has taken to address active aging in place. The purpose of this document is to provide background information on active aging in place, as well as suggest ways in which St. Joseph can take steps to become more age-friendly. Part II: Definitions Active Aging Active aging is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the process of optimizing opportunities for health participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. Livable Community The American Association of Retired People (AARP) describes a livable community as one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility option, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in the civic and social life. In short, a livable community is friendly to older adults and offers a high quality life that fosters independence. Page 32 of 47 4 Part III: Why is Active Aging in Place important? Addressing active aging in our community is important for several reasons. This section will explain how active aging is an economic issue, quality of life issue, and how it spans across multiple disciplines. Economic Issue of Active Aging Aging populations are forces of economic growth, particularly if seniors age in their own homes. Active aging in place is an economic issuefor several reasons. First, numerous studies find senior citizens are more likely to spend their money locally, thereby supporting local businesses. Furthermore, retired persons often have stable income sources through retirement benefits or social security. The combination of stable incomesources and a tendency to buy locally brings welcomed opportunity to local business. Secondly, when people leave the workforce for retirement, they tend to live by a different schedule than the younger population. Instead of spending their days in an office, they have the opportunity to fill their days with leisurely activities. This will likely entail walking around the town or spending time at local shops and stops. The visibility and presence of active retired persons positively affects the vibrancy and liveliness of public environs. This, in turn, promotes intergenerational exchanges and builds a sense of community which encourages others to spend more time out and about in the community. Third, retirees often volunteer for efforts which enrich their lives, impact the community, and pass along knowledge and wisdom to younger generations. Volunteers are especially important effective service delivery by non-profit organizations, governments, and non-government organizations. If organized correctly, volunteers have the ability to improve the quality of education for young students, which has the possibility of increasing returns on investments through human capital. Lastly, failure to facilitate active aging in place has been shown to actually hinder economic growth. Aging adults without access resources supporting active aging in place will likely face the decision to move to a different community or move into a nursing home. If the former, the community loses one more customer and one more tax payer. If the latter, financial hardship may befall the community member and/or public healthcare costs may increase markedly. Quality of Life and Active Aging Quality of life is an essential component of community identity whichcontributes mightily to efforts to attract wealth into a community (i.e. economic growth). In many cases, the quality of life, and the quantity of that life, can be made better through simple actions and resources. Page 33 of 47 5 In the context of active aging, resource availability means more than access to financial resources, human services, and the physical gadgets that make life easier. Resource availability also refers to the availability of knowledge. Simply being aware of ways to live a safer, healthier, and longer life as an older adult can be priceless. For example, knowing how much water your body needs as it ages,or removing slipping hazards such as rugs, or knowing which type of door handles are better to choose when building a house can go a long way toward independent active aging in place. Promoting and facilitating resource usage by retirees can significantly improve a community’s quality of life. Active Aging across Multiple Disciplines Active aging is not relevant to only one discipline, a specific population group, an established geopolitical boundary, or the public or private sector. Active aging affects multiple disciplines,is relevant to everyone despite their age, spans geopolitical boundaries, and pervades public and private sectors. As will be further explained in the next section of this document, active aging directly or indirectly pertains to local, state and federal government entities, health care organizations, construction companies, churches, and local business to name a few. The success of these institutions may be influenced by how well they address active aging in their own way. For example, construction and design companies could add value to their portfolio by informing soon to be new home owners of how to build age-friendly homes. Similarly, planning ahead could save health insurance organizations costs by promoting regular checkups, physical exercise, and healthy eating. Faith-based institutions could promote their membership’s mental and social well-being by organizing events. In keeping with the purpose of this document to provide background information on active aging in place, the following section will provide an overview of the facets of active aging in place. Page 34 of 47 6 Part IV: Facets of Active Aging and Best Practices for Successful Aging In Place Communities The WHO assesses community active aging attributes in terms of eight different categoriesor facets: 1. Outdoor spaces and buildings 2. Transportation 3. Housing 4. Social participation 5. Respect and social inclusion 6. Civic participation and employment 7. Communication and information 8. Community support and health services Table 1 in the Appendix summarizes best practices of successful aging-in-place communities. Outdoor spaces and buildings Available outdoor spaces and buildings impact quality of life and a person’s ability to successfully and actively age in place. A community with great outdoor spaces and buildings will have many sidewalks to contribute to the walkability of the community. In addition, a community that supports active aging will have numerous places for people to meet and come together and put on events such as coffee shops and community centers. Transportation Access to adequate, appropriate, convenient, and affordable transportation is essential to successful active aging in place. Not every person can drive, has relatives/friends to rely on, or has a personal vehicle; therefore, availability of public transportation options and/or driver programs is of paramount importance. Transportation options must be affordable and ease to access. At a minimum such services should provide aging adults access to community resources, grocery stores, and health care facilities. Housing A variety of life-cycle housing is essential to a community’s health and well-being. Available life-cycle housing in age-friendly communities can be described as meeting two expectations: quantity and quality. A variety of options should be available to retirees looking to relocate within a community or those looking to move to a new community. There should be a variety of housing styles available to meet the diverse financial, physical, and mental needs of the aging Page 35 of 47 7 population. Seniors seeking a new location should have a variety of housing prices and types from which to choose. Housing which supports active aging in place will also have built or modified to facilitate the safety and ease of aging persons. For example, appropriate senior housing could feature low maintenance yards, a limited number of stairs, and automatic lights within the house. Social participation Social participation and its associated mental health benefits are critically important to preventing isolation of aging persons. Social events provide opportunities for aging persons to get out and about, to connect with others, and to have a reason to get moving. Those benefits, in turn, combat social isolationism and loneliness. In addition, social events can, if organized correctly, promote intergenerational connections thereby building community strength. Communities that excel in this facet of aging will host festivals, public movie nights, and other community activities. Respect and social inclusion Effective atmospheres for active aging are those valuing and honoring the presence and contributions of retirees. There is often a stigma attached to aging and aged persons, as if they are a burden to society. It is important for special efforts to be made to erase this false perception. Campaigns that promote the value of older adults helps to get rid of this stigma. It is important that older adults feel valued, respected, included, and treated with dignity in their community despite their age. Civic participation and Employment Successful communities for active aging value contributions aging persons make to society. Providing opportunities for seniors to work and volunteer positively impacts economic growth, personal growth, and community engagement. Communication and information Outreach to aging populations is ever-changing in our technologically advancing society. Care must be taken to provide information and exercise communication strategies that are inclusion of persons without access to technology. All too often resources are available for seniors, but they do not know it. Communities that excel at providing for active aging of their population will make extra effort to reach out and inform citizens through a variety of means. Page 36 of 47 8 Community support and health services Appropriate healthcare and community support are vital to successful active aging environments. Health services must not only be available but they must be accessible as well. If patients are inconvenienced when accessing health care they are more likely to stay home which may exacerbate negative health conditions. Communities that are successful in addressing the health component for active aging will have programs that focus on disease prevention and promotion. This includes, but is not limited to, preventing non-communicable diseases and injuries, access to mental, physical, and oral health specialists, empowering people to take control of their health, and encouraging physical activity and healthy eating. Page 37 of 47 9 Part V: An Evaluation of St. Joseph Many features of St. Joseph contribute to it being a wonderful place to live. Theliberal arts college in the center of town brings in entertainment opportunities and its students bring extra energy to the Downtown. In addition, St. Joseph is conveniently located in a metro area with a hospital, a plethora of activities, and quality of life options. While within a metropolitan area, St. Joseph retains a distinct identity imbued with asmall town atmosphere. St. Joseph hosts several festivities which bring the community together. However, after meeting with various community members and experts on the issue of active aging in place, it has been made clear that there are areas that need improvement within the St. Joseph boundaries to make it more active aging friendly. This section will summarize a few key areas of improvement for St. Joseph as well as its strength. Two active aging areas suggestedfor improvement were brought to my attention on numerous occasions by persons interviewed. The first area is transportation, the second housing. While measures have been taken in the past to provide transportation options to St. Joseph, in the opinions of those consulted for this report, there has not been much success in making the transportation resources known to people. There are a number of St. Joseph residents who are not able to drive, do not have a car, do not have a relatives/friends to take them places, or who simply prefer not to drive themselves. These people currently have a limited number of options for public transportation or they may not likely be aware of alternatives. In addition to transportation, adequacy of housing supporting active aging in place was also a concern of those interviewed. In summary, more options are said to be needed. More specifically, those interviewed suggest demand for more pricing options appealing to all socio- economic classes. Furthermore, those interviewed suggest more options are needed relative to housing style and size. Diversity in the styles and sizes of dwelling units is seen as helping address the unique needs of aging individuals. For example, a mother-in-law apartment, not allowed under the current zoning code, could allow for family members to live close-by and maintain assistance levels in response to aging persons. Table 2 in the Appendix summarizes characteristics of age friendly housing. According to those interviewed for this report, a few other areas that are of mild concern exist. Among those: adding sidewalks to improve the walkability of St. Joseph, expanding opportunities for seniors to stay busy with volunteering and social events, and making citizens aware of the available resources to them. In the view of a local health expert, there have been limited efforts directed at reducing the stigma of aging, promoting routine doctor appointments, and educating seniors about the importance of hydration. Although those interviewed mentioned St. Joseph could improve the social and philanthropic opportunities available for seniors, existing efforts are seen primarily as a strengthof the community. Those interviewed cited the number of social events and clubs in St. Joseph as community strengths; however, at least one person interviewed noted the people who attend such Page 38 of 47 10 events often come from a targeted audience. Particularly effective programs noted were: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church sponsored workshops which educate people on proper dental care, how to avoid falling, and other issues pertinent to active aging. The Church also has tai chi classes designed for those with arthritis, dances for those wishing to move and interact, and quilting and card making events. One individual interviewed noted the success and importance of such events but also noted many people outside of the parish are unaware of them. In summary, according to those interviewed, transportation and housing are the primary candidates for improvement, followed by communication and information. Community support and health services, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment are of moderate concern. St. Joseph does well in the areas of outdoor spaces and buildings and social participation. Table 3 in the Appendix summarizes strengths/weaknesses of St. Joseph in terms of active aging and age friendly communities. Page 39 of 47 11 Part VI: Recommendation: First Step, Formation of a Senior Commission To improve upon the issue of active aging which has been the focus of this paper, I recommend that St. Joseph establish an Active Aging Commission or Senior Advisory Commission. Consisting of five to ten community members with diverse experiences and expertise, an active aging commission would be able to establish goals directed at improving the quality of life for individuals in the St. Joseph community. The remainder of this section will focus on potential goals the Active Aging Commission may choose to focus on as a way to focus on active aging in place in St. Joseph. Goal 1: Strengthen the measures taken to address the quality of life measures for older persons and facilitate active aging in place . Living a quality lifestyle within a home is not always easy. This goal implies not only working on providing resources to people to make their life as an aged adult better, but also to make those resources available and known to everyone. Furthermore, the resources may be available to seniors, may they may not be aware of them and therefore not use them to their advantage. Making the resources known to seniors is an essential component to this goal. Goal 2: Preserve the small town atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and community. Seniors contribute to the positive and friendly atmosphere of any community. Their presence should be respected and encouraged in daily town life and annual festivities. Respect of persons from young and old generations is important for an energetic community based atmosphere to be known. Goal 3: Promote opportunities for communitygrowth. The impact small community events and activities have on the wellbeing of individuals within that community which in turn positively impact the community as a whole cannot be understated. Events that foster intergenerational interaction, bingo nights, quilting groups, card making clubs, church festivals, and the farmer’s market are just a few examples of the ways in which people choose to come together to grow and learn from each other. The existing opportunities which allow people to come together with a shared goal should be promoted and activities which are still at the beginning stages of development should be encouraged. These sorts of activities enhance the mental and social well-being of all community members, especially seniors. Page 40 of 47 12 Resources Personal Interviews Luann Rief, Nursing Department at the College of Saint Benedict Fr. Mike Tupa, Priest at St. Joseph Parish Pastor Dwaine Bruns, Resurrection Christ Lutheran Church Lisa Braun, RSVP St. Cloud Dean Loidolt, Central Minnesota Council on Aging Literary Research http://aginginplaceincentrecountypa.org/aging_in_place_faq.php http://www.giaging.org/issues/community-development/ https://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications/fedgazette/is-gray-the-new-gold http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/livable-in-action/info-2015/in-a-livable- community.html#slide15 http://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/slideshow-eight-domains-of- livability.html#slide9 http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/documents-2014/NAFC- Conference/AARP%20Network%20of%20Age- Friendly%20Communities%20Evaluation%20Guidebook.pdf http://agefriendlyworld.org/en/age-friendly-in-practice/ http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Age_friendly_cities_checklist.pdf Page 41 of 47 13 Appendix Table 1 Best Practices for Age Friendly Communities Category Example of good Qualities Outdoor Spaces and A lot of sidewalks Buildings Parks and open spaces for people to meet Many benches and bike racks Coffee shops, cafes, etc… Community Center Transportation Public transportation service Golf cart ordinance Housing Manyhousing options Mother-in-Law apartments Many houses Built with intent that a senior may live there someday Education on modifying a house to make it safer Social Participation Festivals Outdoor movies Quilting and card making clubs Yoga classes Respect and Social Campaigns the promote respect for seniors Inclusion Intergenerational activities Educating citizens on taking precautions early in life Civic Participation and Job opportunities intended for seniors Employment A job placement site nearby Communication and Pamphlets readily available with information Information Advertising where the resources are that are for seniors Page 42 of 47 14 Community Support Local health facilities available and Health Services Disease prevention programs Opportunities to learn how to maintain or improve oral, mental, and physical health Promotes water hydration Table 2 Age-FriendlyHousing Characteristics Outlets 18 inches above floor levelLights: every room has 3 to 4 times the amount of light than an average home (ambient, accent, and Limit number of rugs in the house task), automatic turn on when entering a room, Easy open windows automatic nighttime illumination between bedroom Grab bars in bathroom and bathroom, under counter lighting No slip flooring Doors and faucets are lever handles or hands free C or D ring handles on cupboards Roll-in shower and drawers Dishwasher is elevated about 9 inches off the floor Low maintenance yard Automatic shut off appliances, large print words and Front door has a bench area or numbers on appliance controls surface area to place parcels Doors are about 4 inches wider than typical drawers Easy to read thermostat Lower kitchen cabinets with easy roll out shelves Page 43 of 47 15 Table 3 Resources Available for Seniors in St. Joseph and the Surrounding Areas Category Current Resources Outdoor Spaces and Heritage Hall/Church Community Center Buildings Fire Hall Legion Benches, parks, baseball field Transportation Housing Arlington place Social Participation RSVP-a volunteer organization based in St. Cloud Respect and Social Inclusion Civic Participation and Employment Communication and Information Community Support Few workshops provided by St. Joseph Parish and Health Services Widows and Widowers support group through St. Joseph Parish Page 44 of 47